Latest statistics show many truck drivers die in truck accidents

On behalf of The Goldberg Law Firm Co., LPA posted in truck accidents on Monday, December 31, 2018.

When Ohioans hear the words "truck accident," they will reflexively think about people who are in conventional vehicles getting into a crash with a large semi and suffering serious injuries and death. While this does happen throughout the state, truckers are also at risk for suffering the consequences of a crash. When this happens as they are going about their business and doing their job, it is important that their families who are left behind understand the risk and take the necessary steps to file a claim for compensation.

Statistically, truckers are in jeopardy of a fatal crash when they are out on the road. The latest information from the U.S. Department of Labor says that truckers experienced an increase in fatalities of 6.6 percent. There were 786 deaths in this industry in 2016. For 2017, the number of deaths for people who worked in the category of driver/sales workers and truck drivers rose to 987. This should give pause to people who are driving trucks for a living and concern their families.

The numbers from the DOL coincide with statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the NHTSA, the number of fatalities in truck accidents in 2017 was the highest it has been in nearly three decades. In general, transportation jobs had an increase in fatalities to 2,083 in 2017. It was 2,077 in 2016. Although the numbers are clear, the DOL is uncertain as to why there is such a danger to truck drivers. This increase for trucker fatalities is an anomaly as the number of fatalities in workplaces overall has been reducing across the U.S.

A truck accident does not just impact people in the other vehicles in a multi-vehicle crash. The truck driver can also suffer injuries and death. For the family left behind, there will be funeral costs, lost wages, loss of companionship and more. A legal filing can help the family survive and move forward. A law firm with experience in investigating truck accidents should be contacted for guidance on how to proceed.

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